Contact:
Rob Meijer, (204) 947-6370, Robert_Meijer@cargill.com
Cargill AgHorizons-Canada wins 2008 Chairman’s Award for Environmental, Health and Safety achievements
WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Cargill Limited’s AgHorizons business has been named a winner of the Cargill 2008 Chairman’s Award for Environmental, Health and Safety Excellence. The award was presented last month at the Cargill Leadership Forum in Minneapolis, an event that recognizes outstanding achievements by Cargill employees and business units around the world.
During the past fiscal year, Cargill AgHorizons added 215 new employees through the acquisition of 11 grain handling and crop input facilities as well as an export terminal in Vancouver By bringing these new facilities into compliance with its existing environmental, health and safety (EHS) standards, Cargill AgHorizons advanced its overall EHS strategy, resulting in internationally recognized ISO 90001-2000 as well as ISO 14000 certifications, HAACP Food Safety certification, and recognition by the Canadian Grain Commission for Identity Preservation Standards.
“While formal recognition from internationally respected standards organizations — as well as one’s own peers — is very rewarding, the most important thing to remember is how these achievements help assure the safety and well-being of our employees, customers, and neighbours at each of our 71 facilities nationwide, every day, including the broader communities and environments in which we operate,” said Keith Castonguay, EHS manager for Cargill AgHorizons-Canada. “We take great pride in the strides we’re making, not only in terms of implementing and exceeding EHS industry standards at all of our facilities, but in raising employee awareness of and appreciation for the rigorous attention we place on these issues.”
Castonguay noted that the business recently surpassed the three-million-hours-worked milestone without a lost-time accident at any of its country facilities, while achieving strong financial results. “Our customers expect us not only to run our businesses efficiently and safely, but responsibly,” he said. “If we’re going about our business the right way, we are better positioned to help our customers succeed at theirs.”
Among the many EHS initiatives undertaken this past fiscal year, Castonguay cites as notable examples the roll-out of Cargill’s Behavior-Based Safety program, the launch of a water conservation program, a winter vehicle safety initiative, the establishment of NH3 (ammonia emission) safety and training standards in collaboration with the Canadian Fertilizer Institute, an ergonomic safety program, and achievement of 2010 energy efficiency standards set by the corporation.
Cargill Limited, which operates grain handling and crop input facilities across Ontario and the Prairies, works in partnership with producers to develop grain-marketing solutions. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Cargill Limited employs over 10,000 people across Canada and has business interests in meat, egg and oilseed processing, animal feed, salt, chocolate, natural gas, crop inputs, as well as grain handling, merchandising and milling. For more information, visit www.cargill.ca.